Spindle for strand wrapping



OCL 29. 1940- s. R'. WALSH Er Al. 2,220,006

SPINDLE FOR STRAND WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Dec.` 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Shaml l /fli , l Heeg/:y

n ATTORNEYS.

0d. 29, y1940. s. R. WALSH ET AL SPINDLE FOR STRAND WRAPPING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DeG. 19, v19559 v S27/wei Patented vOct. 29, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SPINDLE Fon STRAND WRAPPING MACHINES Samuel Rushton Walsh, Valley Falls, R. I., and

Henry Bergerr Ahlberg, Attleboro, Mass., assignors to rH & B American Machine Company, a

corporation of Maine Application Decemberlii, 1939, Serial No. 310,000

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to strand wrapping spindles and is directed more particularly toV improvements in the spindle package holder construction employed with spindles of y this class; and has for one of its objects the securing together of the demountable parts of the spindle assembly by frictional members for ready removal for flier or package changes.

Another object of the invention is the easy removal or the assembly of the serving tip member or bullet from its spindle carried by the upper bobbin iiange for flier changes without the loosening or the tightening of any screw-threaded members.

Another object of the invention is the detachable -frictional connection of the demountable serving tip member or bulletto the spindle of the upper demountable bobbinl flange and also the detachable frictionalconnection of the main driv- 20 ing spindle blade with the upper bobbin flange.

Another object of the invention is the adjustable connection of the` upper andl lower bobbin flanges so as to permit the mountingA between them of any of a number of packages of covering 25 material havingr different axial lengths with centercop-tubes of the same diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a main rotatablespindl'e of i'lxed length on which may be supported any of a plurality of interchangeable yarn packages of the same cop diam-` eter but of different heights or axial lengths, and coupling means which is of an adjustable character to connect the upper and lower flanges to maintain the serving tip'member or bullet and its 35, hollow spindle member vertically centered with respect to the main hollow spindle.

Another object oi the invention is the detachable connecting of both the serving tip member or bullet to its spindle and. the upper flange to its 40. spindle by separate frictional coupling devices each of which is so arranged that the connection or the release of the members from their respective spindles may be readily effected by either a pull or a push in a direction to Aperform the desired result. f f

With these and other obj ects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction; as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In theaccompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a central longitudinal sectional View through a strand covering spindle embodying the present invention and showing one form of package of the covering material in operative position on, the spindle;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing a covering spindle on which is mounted a taller package of the covering material, and an adapter member extending between and connecting the two flanges of the opposite ends of the package;

Fig; 3 is a central sectional view, partly broken away, of another modication of covering spindle showing a diierent form of adapter structure and modified form of tip member;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 as viewed from the underside, and showing one form of demountable flange member for supporting the serving tip and the rotatable flier;

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a covering spindle, on smaller scale, illustrating a modified form of adapter device in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a flier for use with a covering spindle.v

' In the operation of strand covering spindles of this class, it is often desirable to employ strand covering materials of various sizes and weights for spirally covering the elastic strand naterial or core to be wrapped,'which practice has necessitated any or alloi the following steps, viz., the changing of either the size or the type of rotary ier used with such spindles, or of weighting the flier with a washer of the proper weight to cause the iiier to impart the desired tensioning action on the strandv covering material being withdrawn from thesupply package. The construction of one prior form of flange support for the flier arid the guide member for the strand covering material in use at the present time has involved the disadvantage, however, of requiring the complete dismantling of the entire unit, piece by piece, by rst removing the device from the center cop tube of the package of the covering material, and then unscrewing a short tubular-like nut from the end portion of the central tubular upright flier support passing through an annular ange to separate the parts before the removal and the replacement of the flier could be effected, which operation was expensive `and time consuming in that it not only required the use of tools, but it also necessitated stopping the entire machine for a long period with the consequent loss of productive time while such changes were being made to all the spindles; and in order to eliminate these prior disadvantages, the present inventionI contemplates a` spindle package holder construction which is so arranged that it may support any of a number of standard packages of covering material of different axial lengths but having the same size of bore, the same length of spindle being used for supporting and driving all the various heights of packages; and there is furtherprovided an upper bobbin flange which is demountable on the top shifted manually from the whorl revolving band I 8.

open end of the center cop tubeV vof the various yarn packages, and a serving tip member or bullet which is demountable on the upright spindle member carried by such upper flange with frictional means holding the bullet to the spindle; and there is further provided an adapter device between the main hollow driving spindle and the upper flange for connecting the same tothe spindle to hold the flange and its bullet carrying spindle centered and in vertical alignment with the main driving spindle blade when different sizes of the interchangeable packages of the covering material are employed and supported by the main driving spindle; and frictional means also is provided for detachably connecting the adapter member to both the upper flange and to the main driving spindle, and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, II) generally designates one of a plurality of hollow covering spindles of a strand wrapping machine, preferably a rubber covering machine, in which the spindles are of similar construction having a tubular base which is cushioned to the usual horizontal spindle rail I2 by a suitable resilient material, such as a cork or rubber washer I3. To eliminate shock or vibration which may be caused by starting the spindle from rest to bring it up to its normal running speed and by the use Aof unbalanced packages of covering material thereon, the spindle is yieldingly held in place on the rail by means of the usual spring I4 which encircles the depending tubular portion I5 of the base projecting through the rail, the spring |4 being interposed between the underside of the rail I2 and a nut (not shown) threadingly carried by the lower end portion of the tubular portion I5 of the base. In such machines, the spindles I8 are usually arranged in a vstaggered relation laterally of the rail I2 to form two longitudinal rows on the rail. Y

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the spindle is provided with the usual hollow spindle blade I1 which is journalled in suitable anti-friction bearings (not shown) for rotation in the base by means of the usual whorl I8 fast to the spindle blade and driven by a driving band I9, preferably a band or cord having an elastic structure, connected to any suitable source-of power (not shown).

An idler whorl 20, which is loosely rotatable upon an upright tubular extension 2| integral with and rising upwardly from the base is provided below and close to the driving whorl I8 for temporarily receiving the revolving elastic band I8 in the event of breakage of the rubber core or of the strand covering material whereby the elastic driving band I9 may be readily I8 and slid onto the idler whorl 20 in order to stop the spindle and enable the operator to piece up the break without stopping the rotation of the other spindlesv on the machine or that of the shifted A split ring or washer 22 located on the tubular extension 2| between the driving whorl I8 and the idler whorl 20 serves toseparate and maintain the whorls in spaced relationship at all times and prevent their adjacent end faces from rubbing against each other so as to cause rotation of the spindle blade |1 when the revolving driving band I9 is temporarily shifted to an idling position on the idler whorl 28. rPhe foregoing whorl structure is described and claimed in the copending application of Henry B. Ahlberg, No. 309,999, filed December 19, 1939, and per se it forms no feature of the present invention.

Disposed above the whorl I8 and carried by the spindle blade I1 is the usual package 25 of strand covering material, usually consisting of some textile material in strand form, such as cotton, silk or rayon yarn, which package is held at both its ends between a pair of annular flanges 26 and 21, each of which Ahas a plurality of prongs 28 and 29 respectively formed of some resilient material which are insertable within and wedgingly engage at diametrically opposite points the internal wall surface of the usual center cop tube 38 of the package 25 at its opposite end openings.

The lower flange 26 may be formed of sheet metal or of a moldable composition and is suitably aflixed to the driving whorl I8, as by means of screws 3|, whereby rotation of the driving whorl I8 by the band I9 will impart rotary motion to the package 26 supported by the flange 26 and held in driving relation therewith by the prongs 28.

The upper flange 21 may be made of suitable material, such as metal, either in cast or in sheet form, or of a composition moldable under heat and pressure, such as vulcanized hard rubber, vulcanized libre, Bakelite or other common resinoid molding compositions.

The prongs 29 are struck out of a smaller disk 33 of sheet metal forming an insert xed in the underside of the flange 21 and they extend downwardly to provide the wedging relationship with the cop tube 30 above mentioned.

Depending from the underside of the upper flange,21 is a central tubular stud member 35 which is rigidly affixed at one end to the flange 21 by means of a reduced end portion 36 that projects through the central opening of the annular flange 21 and is suitably bent over its top surface asindicated at 31, as by means of a peening operation. The stud '35 is provided with a bore 38 of a size for slidably receiving and telescopically retaining within the lower end portion of the stud the upper end portion 48 of the spindle blade '|1, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

'Rising from the top surface of the flange 21 is the upstanding centralhollow spindle member 4|, the lowerY end portion of which is fiXedly secured within the bore 38 of the stud 35, as by having a forced-fit therein, while the upper free end portion of the 'spindle lmember 4| has slidably mounted thereon a demountable sleeve-like tip member-'or bullet 42.` The bullet 42 has a pointed upper end portion 43 of frustro-conical formation, and is made preferably of a material, such as aluminum or a moldable composition, such as Bakelite or other common resinoid cornpositions, capable of providing a smooth guiding edge over which the strand covering material 44 being rwithdrawn from the supply package 25 passes yin beingY wrapped spirally around the elastic core45 by means of the rotary action of the flier generally designated 4S during the upwardly advancing movement of the core 45 through the hollow spindles IU and 4I during the covering operation. y

The bullet 42 isY formed with two intercommunicating bores 41 and 41 of different diameterathe smaller of which is at the upper end of..

the bullet and has: positioned' therein a sleeve insert 48 composed of a hard.wear'resisting material, such as a hardened steel bushing, suitably secured in place, as by having a pressed-t within the bore. The bullet 42 may be of any desired length just so long as there is suicient clearance between its bottom end face and the top of the ange 21 for the placing of one or more annular weights 49, such as metal Washers, for weighting the flier Mi.V

The flier llt` may be of any ofthe usual types and per se it forms no feature of the present invention. For example, one formV of ier that may be used may comprise one having the form disclosed and' claimed in the copending design patent application of Henry B. Ahlberg, Serial No. D-87,530, filed October 6, 1939, in which the'ier is of the form shown in Fig. 6 of the present drawings and has a sector-shaped body portion 5!) formed of a piece of laminated iibrous material impregnated with a synthetic resin, and perforated as at 5| to provide a bearing for rotating on the tubular spindle member 4l. A wire arm 52 has one end fixed as at 53 to theV apex end or neck portion of the body 50 and the arm extends radially outwardly therefromand is coiled at 'its free end to provide a yarn-guide eye 55.

To detachably secure the tubular stud 35 to the spindle 4l! and also to detachably hold the bullet or tip member 42 to the tubular spindle member 4I, we have provided a pluralityl of independent gripping means allowing the tip 42 and the stud 35 to be slid lengthwise on and off their respective spindles so as to facilitate the easy mounting or removal of these parts Whenever desired. For this purpose, there is provided on the spindle portion 4'!! a nat leaf spring 6'0 extending lengthwise of and housed in the longitudinal slot 6i in the outer side of the spindle blade portion till and held in place by suitable arcuate-shaped arms, as indicated at 62 in Fig. 1, which embrace the lower end portion of the spindle blade section 4U and are positioned within the annular slot 63 formed in the exterior cylindrical surface of the spindle portion 40 near its lower end. Thus, in the assembled relation of the upper flange 21 on the package 25, the tubular stud 35 willv be telescoped over the spindle blade-portion 40 to snugly fit the same and will be grippingly held to the latter by means of friction created by the spring 60 pressing against the inside cylindrical wall surface of the tubular stud 35. Similarly, the sleeve-like tip member or bullet 42 is shown in Fig. 1 as being frictionally gripped internally of the inner wall surface of its large bore 4l by a flat leaf spring (i5 positioned in the longitudinal slot 66 on` the tubular upright spindle member il and secured thereto by suitable arcuate arms, as indicated at 6l which embrace the exterior of the upper end portion of the spindle 4l and are disposed in an annular slot 68 in proximity to its terminal end. V

In order that one type and size of spindle blade may be used in conjunction With various sizes of packages of covering material having different heights or axial dimensions, whenever it is desired to run either light, medium and heavy weight strand covering material on the same machine, and without the necessity for changing the types of spindles as has heretofore been necessary with the prior art machines, a further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of an adapter device arranged within the package of covering material between the upper demountable annular flange and the usual spindle blade inside the package; and the adapter is so constructed and arranged as to connect and be relatively movable along the depending tubular stud member carried by the upper ange so as to properly center the upper ilange and to bring the bores of the two spindles into vertical alignment. Thus, in Fig. 2 there is shown one form of adapter comprising a sleeve member generally designated 'l0 of. stepped formation having a bore ll in its larger portion of a size to snugly t within the bore 38. of the depending tubular stud 35 of the demountable upper flange 2l and be retained in place by the gripping actionof the leaf spring '14 housed in the longitudinal slot 15 in the stem 12 and secured thereto by the arcuate arms 76 which are disposed in4 an embracing relation about the stem. in a circular groove 'f8 near the free end of the-stem. The bullet 42 andthe hollow spindle member 4l on which it is carried, as shown in Fig. 2, have the same structure as that shown in Fig. 1 and for specic details of such structure, referenceis made to the description of these parts in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modified form ofA adapter in which the upper flange 8!) carries a tubular stud member 8| the lower end portion of which is ormedfwith a reduced externally screw threaded portion 82 adapted to receive the internally screw threaded sleeve 83 which is slidably mounted by means of the centralbore 84 upon the driving spindle 4i) and frictionally held thereto by the flat leaf spring 60. The sleeve 83 engages the top of the hub 85 on the spindle blade I7 and thus functions as a distance piece between the tubular stud 8l and the hub 85 of the spindle in the different adjusted positions of the sleeve for accommodating different heights of supply packages of the covering material. The sleeve 83 as thus arranged may be retracted or it may be extended to move relative to the tubular stud 8l as desired, by being turned by means of a wrench engaging the holes 86 and screwed either on or` off the threaded portion 82 in the required direction so asto bring the lower portion of the sleeve well along the body of the spindle portion 40 or intolabutting relation with the top of the hub 85 when the upper flier supporting flange 21 is iiush with the top end of the package S8. It will thus be apparent thata wide variety of adjusted positions' may be obtained by adjustment of the sleevev 83 in order to accommodate for the difierent heights or axial lengths of the various sized yarnY packages 88 employed in the art andto enable the spindle blade portion 4i) to correctly centerthe upper iiange 80 when it is used with different height packages of covering material.

In, Fig.. 3 there is-also shown a different form of bullet S'made either of aluminum or of a moldable resinoid materialiand having a frustro-conical upper end portion 9| and an enlarged flange 92 at its lower end for supportingthe rotary flier 93 which isrotatably carried by the tubular body portion ofthe bullet. An annular ring 94 secured by a screw 95 to the tubular portion of the bullet well above the flier 93 serves to provide a stop to limit the elevating movement of the flier as it revolves on the bullet during the covering operation. The bullet is held to the upstanding central hollow spindle 96 carried by the flange 80, by a flat spring' 9T and is easily removed by sliding movement on and oi the free end of the spindle 96.

In- Fig. 5, there is illustrated another modified form of adapter structure for insuring correct alignment of the upstanding spindle IBI carried 45. ber connected to said spindle for rotation in uniby the upper flange I 02 and supporting the frustro-conical sleeve-like tip member or bullet (not shown) and the rotatable flier |03, all of which being similar in structure to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception of the depending stud |04 which in the present instance carries a flat spring |05 on the exterior of its lower end portion for frictionally engaging the inside wall surface of the adapter |06. The adapter |06 comprises a sleeve |00 having two inter-comrnunicating bores |01 and |08 of different diameters, the smaller bore |08 being adapted to snugly fit and slidably receive the usual main spindle blade portion 40 of the spindle blade l0, while the larger bore |01 is of a size such as to slidably telescope over and receive the lower end portion of the depending tubular stud |04. When the parts are thus assembled, the sleeve |06 is held frictionally connected to the stud |04 and also to the spindle blade portion 40 by means of the leaf spring |05 and 40 respectively.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there has been disclosed several forms of coupling devices in accordance with the invention which permit application and use of the same flange and bullet supporting spindle member upon a plurality of different interchangeable yarn packages of different heights and thus there is provided a universal spindle arrangement whereby packages of different weights and kinds of covering material may be readily interchanged and substituted for each other on a common spindle.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructions illustrated, but we desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible.

We claim:

1. In combination, a rotatable spindle blade, a demountable sleeve-like tip member on said spindle arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, and frictional gripping means between said spindle and said demountable member frictionally holding said tip memson therewith in the assembled position of said elements.

2. In combination, a rotatable spindle blade, a demountable sleeve-like tip member on said spindle arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on and oil the same, and resilient means between said spindle and said demountable member frictionally holding said tip member connected to said spindle for rotation in unison therewith in the assembled position of said elements.

within said member between said spindle and 3. In combination, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, a demountable sleeve-like member on said spindle arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, and a spring disposed Ion said spindle arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on and oil the free end portion of the same, and a leaf spring carried by one of said members having firm gripping engagement with y the other of said members and located between the'v members in their assembled position for frictionally holding said members connected together for rotation in unison.

5. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material is to be detachably held, means detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and of the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable into different adjusted positions thereon, and frictional gripping means between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

6. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material including a central cop tube is to be detachably held, means carried by each of said flange members insertable within the opposite end openings of the cop tube of said package and having gripping engagement with the inside wall surfaces of said tube for detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter devicedemountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable into different adjusted positions thereon, and a leaf` spring between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

7. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material is to be detachably held, means detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable intodifferent adjusted positions thereon, frictional gripping means between said adapter and said sleeve member detachably securing these members together, and frictional gripping means between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

8. In a, spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material including a central cop tube is to be detachably held, means carried by each of said flange members insertable Within the opposite end openings of the cop tube of said package and having gripping engagement with the inside wall surfaces of said tube for detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable into different adjusted positions thereon, a leaf spring between said adapter and said sleeve member detachably securing these members together, and a leaf spring between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

9. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material is to be detachably held, means detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter having screw threaded connection with the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is adjustable to vary the effective length of the sleeve member upon relative rotation of the adapter thereon, and frictional gripping means between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding said elements connected together for rotation in unison.

10. In a-spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which flanges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material is to be detachably held, means detachably securing said package to said anges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter having screw threaded connection with the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is adjustable to vary the effective length of the sleeve member upon relative rotation of the adapter thereon, and a leaf spring between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding said elements connected together for rotation in unison.

11. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular flange members to be rotated by said blade and between which iianges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material is to be detachably held, means detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the flanges, a hollow spindle member carried by said upper flange and extend- `ing upwardly from its top surface, a demountable tip member on said last named spindle member, frictional gripping means between said spindle member and said tip member for detachably securing said members together for rotation in unison, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an

adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and off the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable into dilerent adjusted positions thereon, and frictional gripping means between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

12. In a spindle of the class described, a hollow ,rotatable spindle blade, upper and lower annular iiange members to be rotated by said blade and between which anges a hollow cylindrical package of strand covering material including a central cop tube is to be detachably held, means carried by each of said flange members insertable within the opposite end opening of the cop tube of said package and having gripping engagement with the inside wall surfaces of said tube for detachably securing said package to said flanges when the package is positioned between the anges, a hollow spindle member carried by said upper flange and extending upwardly from its top surface, a demountable tip member on said last named spindle member, a leaf spring carried by and located between said spindle member and said tip member for detachably securing said members together for rotation in unison, a sleeve member carried by said upper flange and depending from its underside, an adapter device demountably arranged upon the free end portion of said `spindle blade for longitudinal sliding movement on and olf the same, said adapter being so constructed and arranged as to receive and retain the lower end portion of said depending sleeve member and relative to which the adapter is longitudinally movable into diierent adjusted positions thereon, and a leaf spring between said adapter and said spindle blade for detachably holding such elements connected together for rotation in unison.

- SAMUEL RUSHTON WALSH.

HENRY BERGER AHLBERG. 

